Graham Cooper

EU carbon price plunges as coronavirus hits industrial output

Carbon prices in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) have plummeted by 35% in five trading sessions as policy measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak slashed industrial activity - and therefore carbon emissions.

Investors and verifiers welcome EU Green Bond Standard

Green bond investors and providers of 'external reviews' have generally welcomed the latest recommendations for an EU Green Bond Standard (GBS) (LINK 1) but several expressed concerns about how widely it will be used.

RGGI auction price hits four-year high after New Jersey rejoins

The price of emission allowances in the latest auction of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) carbon trading scheme reached $5.65, the highest clearing price since December 2015.

Bonds round-up: Vattenfall, Prudential Financial, VW, OCBC ... and more

EU Green Bond Standard moves a step closer

Final recommendations for an EU Green Bond Standard (GBS) have been published by the EU Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance but their regulatory status will not be confirmed until the third quarter of this year.

Asian finance sector demands greater role in global ESG policy

Asian financial institutions should have more influence on international policies on environmental and sustainability issues, according to a regional trade association.

Coronavirus expected to trigger pandemic cat bonds

The current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak is likely to trigger payouts from pandemic catastrophe bonds issued by the World Bank's Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF), according to ratings agency DBRS Morningstar.

Bonds round-up: VF, Sydney Airport, EBRD, Egypt, Mexico ... and more

Hannon Armstrong portfolio exceeds $2bn

Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (HASI) said its portfolio of investments in renewables and energy efficiency assets had reached $2.1 billion by the end of 2019 after it closed $1.3 billion of transactions during the year.

Hydro Quebec takes major stake in renewables firm Innergex

Canadian utility Hydro Quebec has made a CAD661 million ($497 million) equity investment in Innergex Renewable Energy via a private placement, giving it a 19.9% stake in the company.